The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. This post is located in UN-HABITAT/ROAS at the Erbil/Iraq duty stations and the incumbent will report to the Chief Technical Advisor/Head of Programme, UNHABITAT/ Iraq Programme.
The incumbent will perform the following functions:
1. Project Management and Implementation:
• Ensure effective and efficient execution of UN-Habitat projects and management of the project resources through resource mobilization activities, technical guidance, quality, cost control and ensure support of the project resources as per approved project document and substantive work plan.
• Coordinate overall work plans and budgets.
• Prepare relevant documentation and reports related to projects.
• Initiate recruitment of human resources.
• Liaise with partners to ensure quality and timely delivery of UN-Habitat's projects and programmes.
2. Technical Assistance, Advisory Services and Outreach:
• Review and analyze issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or other research activities and studies to develop policies.
• Technical Assistance - Provide technical assistance and implementation support to the Government of Iraq and the regional Government of Kurdistan, project partners and key stakeholders to ensure successful implementation of projects and programmes.
• Build regional capacity for improved urban management.
• Conduct training workshops and seminars.
• Make presentations to local institutions and government.
• Provide quality technical input into project activities as well as to national institutions in line with Strategic Plan of UN-Habitat and the relevant thematic area.
3. Representation and Liaising with key stakeholders:
• Manage, develop and maintain close working relationships with relevant national and international partners, stakeholders, and other UN Agencies in the duty station.
• Promote and coordinate active participation in the relevant Focus Areas/Domains of Change in the Strategic Plan.
• Coordinate the implementation and monitoring of the Habitat country programme document.
• Support/stimulate the inter-divisional cooperation at country level through the enhanced normative operational frameworks.
4. Perform other related duties as may be assigned.
PROFESSIONALISM: Strong conceptual skills. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery in the UN Habitat focus areas of Urban Planning and Design, Housing and Slum Upgrading; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team short comings.
PLANNING & ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in engineering, project management, business administration urban planning, architecture or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A minimum of seven (7) years of working experience in areas related to human settlements, project or programme management and/or development, including at least three at the international level. Experiences in the Middle East and in post conflict areas are added advantages.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position fluency in oral and written English is required. Fluency in Arabic Language is an advantage.
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Appointment against this position is for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. The United Nations is Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira "Need Help?" link.
The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening.
Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/ Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.
Internal Applicants – when completing the PHP, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you.
Individual contractors and consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered.
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.
Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
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The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.
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